Britain has reportedly rejected former spokesperson of the Malawi ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Hetherwick Ntaba, who was appointed and confirmed as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
According to sources, Ntaba’s rejection is in connection to 2011 diplomat row between Britain and Malawi. He is said to have largely supported former President Bingu wa Mutharika’s decision to expel former British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fergus Cochrane Dyet.
The British diplomat was ordered to leave Malawi after branding the former Malawi leader as ‘autocratic’, ‘combative’ and ‘intolerant of criticism’.
He was consequently declared persona non grata and was given just 72 hours to leave the country.
Sources claimed that Britain is ready to “welcome and work with any Malawi High Commissioner to UK and not Ntaba”.
Effort to get hold of Ntaba proved futile his mobile number could not be reached.
However, Public Appointment Committee (PAC) of Parliament Chairperson Lingston Belekanyama claimed that Ntaba has withdrawn on personal grounds, but he could not tell the reasons for the decision.
“I spoke with him and the President is aware of this. But as for the details, ask the Office of the President and Cabinet or Dr Ntaba himself,” said Belekanyama.
Meanwhile, PAC has cleared Chrissie Kaponda, High Commissioner-designate to South Africa and Ambassador-designate to Brazil Edward Sawerengera.
According to Belekanyama, the issues the Committee had with the two had been cleared.
However, Ambassadors-designate to Egypt and Germany Yunus Mussa and Voice Mhone still need to be replaced, according to sources.
